Pass the Gravy, the Year is a Bit Dry
It’s about that time of year again where we thank our people and we express our gratitude for the things we have. I think it should be practiced everyday — saying thanks, but I know this holiday is reserved for such appreciations. I find it to be a day of mourning really, but I can also find the light of being with family…hm, yeah this year is looking a little slim in that department. I’m basically going to make a nice meal for my immediate family and give blessings to those who have given and sacrificed a lot so that we may eat, drink, and be merry.
There are many things we can be grateful for at Thanksgiving. As I will gaze upon a leafless table this year, missing my Aunts and cousins as we battle for the most backhanded compliments, and my fiancé struggles to translate the abundance of conversations in Spanish around him. “They are talking about me, aren’t they?” I will zone out and continue to imagine a Manhattan waiting for me down a long gravel road. I’ve never been one for holidays, or getting together with family for that matter. I end up exhausted, feeling bad for myself or pissed off. Thanksgiving in particular is not my favorite of American traditions, however I love a day off of work.
This year will be quite different, for when the time comes to give thanks, i will be grateful for an unlikely source — Covid. Now before you gasp in disapproval, or want to hand me to the loony bin, hear me out. Sometimes Aunt ‘Rona needs to come in and upset the table on its end so we look at the mess we need to clean up. I don’t think there is any denying that we have been given an emotional, financial, occupational, mental and historical mess this time year. We’ve been routinely sitting at the same table for so long that we pass the potatoes with assembly line precision, that the taste of turkey, cranberries, and yams seem to have no difference. Now, this American tradition we hold so dear has literally become — dangerous, I cannot miss the irony here.
So while I’ll miss the three separate trips to families homes, the incessant need for my Aunt to comment on my weight, love life, or dress, or my step-father’s niece showcasing her recent “augmentation” at the dinner table, colorful as it all is, I’m thankful for the disorder Aunt Rona has made. As I will look down the table from my first sitting at its head, I would like to bow my head and be truly grateful for these truths:
Thank you, Covid, for time. Time to do more physical activity which had not been present in the last five years. Time to take walks and call my distanced dad and brother more frequently which I take for granted sometimes. Time to text my family overseas to send a little gif or meme and say hello. Time to educate myself in subjects I’ve always been interested in, but never found the time to read about. Time to explore my city and my state finding hidden gems everywhere. Time to save money for the home I’ve always wanted. Time to do my job better and be more creative. Time to bring my Aunt to her doctor’s appointments and get her groceries. Time for road trips and new adventures. Time to reconnect with long lost friends that I’ve loved from afar. Time to love my neighbors by helping them take care of their homes and our neighborhood. Time to purge and cleanse the past. And mostly, time to dream. Time to dream about my future and my quality of life.
Thank you, Covid for bringing lasagna to the table.
I truly believe that chaos comes before peace. There are so many things I can be grateful for including my clients I’ve had an opportunity to build relationships with, and while they get a seat at the table, there are others we should show our utmost appreciation for:
Our exhausted healthcare workers. I have friends on the frontline and I do not think they have had to work harder in their lives. We must continue to give them praise for the work they are doing.
Our educators. I think we’ve seen the challenge they’ve been given and their dedication to our children is apparent. They deserve a lot more than they’ve been given.
Our neighbors. The kindness which has stemmed from this time is remarkable. From delivered goods to mowing lawns to walking pets, it has been nice to receive and give these acts in such a dark time.
So, thank you Covid, as I show respect and honor to those who were here before us and those who have contributed to the well being of others and this planet, let us not forget the true essence of home for the holidays. Let’s be grateful for those moments we take for granted and let’s take this time to work on our progression so that we may all sit together again in peace. Now pass the rolls, it’s cheat day, we have 4 seasons of The Crown to binge and let’s be truly thankful for the one thing I think we can all agree on — this year being almost over.